Mitigating Safety and Outage Risk Due to Copper Theft

Substation Ground Grid:
Copper Theft Monitoring Systems
Presented by:
Joe Boyles
Owner
Boyles Electronics
CuTS®
Joe Boyles
Boyles Electronics, Inc.
April 6, 2016
PEG Conference
Monroe, LA
CuTS®
The problems caused by network metal theft
Metal theft from power delivery grounding networks creates multiple high-impact issues as well
as both direct and indirect costs:
Safety
• Technicians,
• Police and first responders
Operations
• Direct costs of repairing damage and replacing infrastructure
• Additional engineering time and operations costs
• Service Outages
Indirect Costs
• Penalties and compensation
• Mobile generator deployment
• Public and regulatory pressure for fast resolution of issues
CuTS®
Substation copper theft
Theft from substations is mostly of grounding copper,
and is seen as an easy to harvest, low risk target
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First target is cable from ground grid
Removal leaves much of site plant ungrounded
Often majority of such connections are removed during a raid
Perpetrator knowledge can be high
Less organized thieves often get injured or worse
Ground grid also damaged or partially removed
CuTS®
Safety issues resulting from substation theft
These images are from a 161 kV capacitor bank from which the grounds had been stolen. When the Transmission
System Operator energized the ungrounded bank, the structure, including the anchor bolts, became
energized. The path to ground was through the foundation
CuTS®
Safety issues resulting from substation theft
These images were taken of a single phase voltage regulator stand where the regulator neutral and stand grounds
were stolen. The stand became energized at line potential and was energized when it was discovered. Voltage/current
was seeking ground through the foundation. This was a potentially lethal event.
CuTS®
Safety issues resulting from substation theft
‘These photos were from a
substation we found where the
neutral and tank grounds were
stolen from a 3750kva, 34 / 12 kv
transformer. We discovered and
replaced the grounds not knowing
the damage that had occurred under
the tank’.
CuTS®
Safety issues resulting from substation theft
‘When the transformer was
removed, it was obvious that the
current path was attempting to
return to the source. The concrete
foundation as well as the sub
structure of the transformer showed
significant damage’.
CuTS®
Safety issues resulting from substation theft
Significant and potentially more risky
issues for customers occur at the
delivery end of the network
This fault occurred when the neutral
and grounds were stolen from a
single phase voltage regulator.
CuTS®
Current Site Security Layers
Existing site security and deterrents fall into the following categories:
• Those that prevent the thieves getting onto the site
Fences, locks, visible alarm systems
• Detecting the thieves while on sites
CCTV, movement and sound sensors
• Catching the thieves after the event
Smart water, dye ‘bombs’, printed cable sheathing
None of these methods detects the actual theft and ultimately the
severe safety and operational risks of substation copper theft.
CuTS®
CuTS® Design Criteria agreed with Industry Sponsors
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Quick communication of removal event
Difficult to circumvent
Not to affect the integrity of the grounding systems
Not susceptible to false alarms
Suitable for installation in varying locations and environments
Easy to install with no service down-time
Easily integrate with existing site telemetry communications where
present - SCADA
• Low Asset cost
CuTS®
CuTS® Benefits Derived
• Enhanced site safety protects staff, first responders and the public from
electrocution
• Detect theft activity as it happens minimizing exposure to associated
safety and service risks
• Reduced risk of consequential damage across distribution network
through to the delivery points
• Maximize service continuity and customer service. Provider can replace or
repair site damage at earliest opportunity
• Return on investment. Calculated using a risk-based model to be between
two and five years, depending on site and risks included in model.
CuTS®
How CuTS® Works
• CuTS® monitors metallic infrastructure for change due to cutting,
removal, damage or degradation
• CuTS® system looks for changes in the monitored infrastructure
inductance characteristics
• The monitored infrastructure is coupled into a sensing circuit via sense
wire inputs which detects minor changes (down to below 0.02µH)
• When change occurs beyond the adjustable thresholds, the unit alarm is
activated
• Filter thresholds include extent of change detected and duration of
change- this copes with site faults and other events
CuTS®
How CuTS® Works
CuTS®
Sense wires
Sense Circuit
Event Filter
Senses changes in the
monitored infrastructure:
changes in Inductance and
related effects
Cell/Wireless
Alarm Module
Alarm
Circuit
CuTS® is equipped
with cellular
modem, and can
also provide a
simple make/break
pair for connection
to SCADA.
US Patent Pending
Monitored
Infrastructure
CuTS®
CuTS® ZM Sub-Station Applications
CuTS®
CuTS® ZM Sub-Station Applications
CuTS® unit
Zone Cards
AC Power Adapter
(suitable for location)
Modem and SIM Card
CuTS®
CuTS® ZM Sub-Station Applications
• CuTS® system is powered by
an AC wall adaptor for 12V DC
(12V DC battery feed can be
used)
• Alarm by modem or
make/break alarm output
through SCADA or similar onboard modem is not utilised
for alarm connection.
CuTS®
CuTS® Deployed In A Substation
• Multi-zone version
• Antenna to extend GSM coverage
when required
• Customer requested armoured
cables – connection methods
follow customers’ own policies
• Installations are intended to be
carried out by our customers’
own engineers, with training
CuTS®
Example Of CuTS® Installation

Sense wire
The first sense wire
protects the top half
of the grid.
Zone 1

CuTS
ZM
Spur
Zone 2

SCADA
The second sense wire
protects the bottom half
of the grid.
CuTS®
CuTS® Set-Up And Monitoring
• Only required for
configuration, not alarm
monitoring
• Developed for Windows
• Remote wireless access
• High and Low alarm settings
are independent for each
board
• High – red
• Low – green
• Signal - white
• Levels can be set manually
or allowed to auto-tune
CuTS®
CuTS®: Service Portal
Customized Site Deployment
and Alert Map From Service
Portal to Track and Manage
Activity. CuTS® Can
Communicate With Other
Technologies.
CuTS®
Boyles Electronics
Contact Information
Joe Boyles
joe@boyleselectronics.com
www.Boyleselectronics.com
615-822-4548 Office
615-957-3474 Mobile
1592 Anderson Road
Hendersonville, TN 37075